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Mary Ellen Connolly

How I can help you

I am eager to help you create a productive workforce and workplace for your organization! ​Are you looking to hire your first employees or bring on independent contractors? Do you know how to ensure you are hiring the right people or that you know the right hiring process? Do you know how to set up HR policies, procedures, or the employment laws that regulate your business? Do you know what work to outsource or how to create job descriptions? Are you trying to set up an employee handbook or integrate employee benefits? Do you want to provide Harassment-Free Training to your employees? Are you having employee problems with performance or behavior? Has your employee asked for an ADA Disability Accomodation or a workers' compensation claim or a FMLA leave request? I can provide guidance and resources for your personnel opportunities, challenges, and issues.

Over the last 15 years, I worked as an HR Manager, HR Director, and Vice President, HR. I had the exciting privilege to help a company grow from 50 to 1,500 employees as well as for a company that grew from a $5 million to $50+ million enterprise. ​I have worked through business life cycles from start up, slow growth, fast growth, acquisition, and contract ends/layoffs. My role has always been to hire the right people for the right job and to ensure employee retention, integration of benefits that are perceived as benefits, policies that are fair and respectful, and a company culture that is inclusive and motivating. My personal mission is helping others to succeed, collaborate, and build trust within working environments and teams.

Areas of Expertise

Government & Regulations

Human Resources & Internal Communications

Industry Experience

Professional & Business Services

Nonprofit, Public and Professional Organizations

Education

I achieved my Master of Science degree in Human Resources Management from the University of Maryland University College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California-Berkeley, which includes one year Education Abroad Program at the Universite de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. I have held my Professional Human Resources Certification (PHR) since 2003 and was awarded the 2016 “Oklahoma State Excellence in Human Resource Management Award” from the OKHR State Council, affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.